I include this video because after seeing them twice in as many days at the Summerfest music festival in Milwaukee, I happened into them at my hotel pool and talked with the guitar player (who was so upbeat she reminded me of Flo from the Progressive ads) and the singer trumpet player for the song in the video called "A Bar in Amsterdam."
After each song they change positions on stage, each playing every instrument you see and many many more. I learned what a Glockenspiel is (a xylophone). Never saw such overall musical talent before. They won over the crowd of thousands both nights as they played before the Scorpions and then Devo. I bet they are quite the hit for Oktoberfest in Germany, let me tell you. Even in Milwaukee they got the crowd up dancing on the tables.
The blond singer is the drummer, and the guitar player you see in this one is the lead singer who usually plays an accordion. The blond at the pool wore almost nothing and with her new dreadlocks is a doppelganger which brought back visions of the movie "10".
I usually take my vacation back home to see family and friends during Summerfest each year which takes place on the lakefront in Milwaukee and lasts 11 days.
I was there in 1972 and ended up in jail with George Carlin who was arrested for saying the 7 dirty words in Milwaukee. I was in jail because of a riot induced by the authorities pulling the plug in the middle of "Roadhouse Blues" by the Doors, because it was getting late, 11pm. I didn’t do anything but got clobbered and hauled off no matter. I had a joint and lighter in my pocket and smoked it with George. What could they do, throw us in jail?
Summerfest admission is $14 but for those over 60 its $2, so Howie and I went 7 times. There are 8 major stages with 5 bands at each over the day and night. A choice of 40 bands a day.
The stages are much the same with bleachers in front of the mixer, picnic tables behind the mixer, lots of standing room all around for dancing and four large 10 tap beer tents positioned around the back.
Important to me is that it is general admission seating for each stage. So you can move around, dance, sit up front, eat at a picnic table, stand on the picnic table, dance on a picnic table and no one cares! Unlike most concerts today that if you dance out of your seat you go to jail.
The single high point was Jeff Beck doing the Beatles "Day in the Life." "I read the news today oh boy…" It was all instrumental in which he somehow made the guitar talk to your head. Not that Peter Frampton thing, but something deeper. Hard to explain. It was so beautiful I cried.
Uriah Heep who do one of my favorite songs "Stealin" reminded me of the movie "Spinal Tap", but they did the song just as I remembered so I was happy enough.
I had backstage passes for Levon Helm who came out doing The Band rocker "The Shape I’m In" It was great! Of course "The Weight" was very nostalgic for Howie and I who had gone to see Easy Rider together so many years ago. "Oh, I have a helmet!"
I liked the Scorpions which was their swan song tour. Devo was a bit much. I suppose if yall did enough acid it would fun.
Had a great 10 minutes with Joan Jett. I was scouting out the front row to see if my friends could handle it. While off to the right side looking down that front row everyone suddenly stood up on their bleachers leaving a direct line to the other end of the stage. I walked down it and just at the very middle, Joan Jett came to the edge of the stage and screamed right at me, "I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation!" Eye contact, a song I never heard and was caught up in. I love that song! Then she went right into another song I had never heard (being a boy and all), "Chi chi chi chi chi CHERRY BOMB!" Boy did I like that too! There was a pause and I went back to my pals and more beer. But those two songs were really really really good songs! And I never heard them before. Straight up rock and roll!
The best thing I saw overall, which I was sure I wouldn’t like, were the Moody Blues. They do the live show a lot different than they do studio albums. They had fast rocking blues riffs in every song. It was loud, a good show and the crowd went nuts. I also was not aware of just how romantic "Nights in White Satin" was. Every couple there were in each others arms kissing and hugging and making me sick. I went and got another beer.
Speaking of which. Beer everywhere, like every 100 feet for most of a mile of stages. Getting old and all I only managed about 12 a day.
I crammed a year of fun into a week and survived!